Electrophoresis, Vol.26, No.6, 1163-1167, 2005
Measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of sheep erythrocytes using microcapillary chips
Cell electrophoretic mobility (EPM) can be used to characterize individual cells. The purpose of this study is to establish reproducible and reliable cell EPM values obtained using microcapillary electrophoresis (mu CE) chips. We studied cell electrophoresis on pCE chips through the comprehensive measurement of EPM and zeta potential. The inner wall of microchannels in pCE chips was coated with three kinds of reagents, namely bovine serum albumin (BSA), gelatin, and 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer to prevent nonspecific adhesion and interaction between cells and the inner wall. Electrophoresis was conducted in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 4-9) using erythrocytes extracted from sheep whole blood. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) mobility was measured using noncharged particles, and then the true EPM was calculated by subtracting the EOF mobility from the electromigration. MPC polymer coatings in mu CE chips reduced the zeta potential of the inner wall and fully prevented nonspecific adhesion. EPM data obtained using mu CE chips were almost the same and reproducible over a wide range of pH irrespective of the coating reagent used. In conclusion, reliability in the measurement of cell EPM using mu CE chips was realized.